Spate of animal poisonings puts community on high alert

Some dog walkers have stopped taking their pets for walks on Redland Green after a spate of poisonings in the area in recent weeks.

Cats, dogs, foxes, mice, voles and a badger have all been poisoned, with one theory being that the source of the poison is within either Redland Green or Metford Road Allotments.

Police have been made aware of the poisonings, with pupils and parents from nearby Redland Green School told to remain vigilant.

One cat spent 20 days in intensive care in Langford with vets saying that their symptoms were likely caused by paracetamol, onion or garlic.

A resident of Metford Road whose garden backs onto the allotments said she has found half a dozen dead mice and voles in her garden over the last two to three weeks.

Redland Green Allotments has more than 100 plots – photo: Martin Booth

A letter sent to to parents by Redland Green School said: “There has been a report that several animals have been found dead/dying across the last few weeks near to and around the Redland Green allotments. These include dogs, cats, foxes and a badger.

“Some of these animals were taken to a vet surgery where it was established they were poisoned. At this time, the Police have no clue where in the area it has happened, but it may be inside the allotments. This has been occurring since around 19/03/23, when the first animal was found.

“This could be deliberate, accidental or a wildflower/plant. Please be alert to possible poisonous substances around the allotments, and to be vigilant of any animals that may appear in distress or showing signs of poisoning.

“Please be assured that we take all safeguarding issues extremely seriously and would like to take this opportunity to remind all students and parents to be observant and to report any suspicious behaviour to the Police and the School.”

Metford Road Allotments run down the opposite side of the valley from Redland Green Allotments – photo: Martin Booth

On Next Door, Lisa Gardner wrote: “I was born here and have lived overlooking Redland Green for most of my life, however it was my cat that had the toxic insult. I have now found out it happened the same day as at least one of the foxes was found dead. My cat was in Langford hospital in ITU for 20 days. They said that had generally seen an increase in poisonings.

“We have no idea if it was deliberate or the same thing, but my cat goes around the whole green. We all thought she was going to die, including the vets.

“I sincerely hope it was not deliberate but letting her out fills me with terror but she loves being outside. The warning is to raise awareness…

“(The vets) said her symptoms were very unusual. They said it was likely to be paracetamol, onion or garlic.

“Definitely not rat poison as that makes them bleed internally. I am hoping they find out through the post mortem of the foxes if it’s the same thing. I have told them who the vet I saw was and I hope they would be able to say if it could be the same.”

Stonework on Redland Green is the last remaining part of the boundary wall between the common land of Redland Green and fields owned by John Cossins on which the houses on St Oswald’s Road and Cossins Road were built – photo: Martin Booth

Also writing on Next Door, Metford Road resident Karen Andreski said: “We have found 5/6 dead mice voles in our garden over the last 2-3 weeks which I commented to my husband was strange.

“We are in Metford Road and back directly onto the allotments and have lived her for over 20 years so are familiar with and love the wildlife. About two weeks ago we saw a female fox in the garden that looked extremely ill, she obviously had feeding pups but sadly we haven’t seen her recently.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

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